She was born on March 4, 1931 in Peru, the daughter of Harold L. Howard and Louise Margaret Petrie Howard. On Oct. 12, 1952 in Peru, she was married to James Dean Grimes, and he preceded her in death on July 24, 2011.

Marcia was a graduate of Peru High School in 1949, and she attended the Peru Church of the Brethren. In 1993, she retired from North Miami Elementary School where she had worked as a bookkeeper.